Throughout her career in engineering, Rachael Axtman often felt isolated because of her gender and sexual identity.
It wasn’t until she joined Olo as a Technical Program Manager and got involved with employee resource groups (ERGs) that she felt fully open and free in her work life.
“ERGs made a huge difference for me,” said Rachael. “Connecting with coworkers who face similar struggles really made me feel safe, loved, and included.”
To pay it forward, she became a co-lead of the Olo Pride ERG with Anissa Comonte, Sr. Team Lead, Customer Support. Olo Pride seeks to provide a safe space for employees who identify as LGBTQIA+ and allies to discuss topics that advance the dialogue within the group, as well as the Olo team at large.
“Olo Pride serves as a platform for our community to have a voice and express ourselves,” said Rachael.
Together, she and Anissa aim to make every member feel seen—and educate the broader Olo community—by celebrating LGBTQIA+ holidays and shedding light on important issues such as pronoun usage and discriminatory legislation.
How Olo Supports LGBTQIA+ During Pride Month and Beyond
Olo is committed to building a diverse, inclusive culture that promotes growth and equity for underrepresented groups, including LGBTQIA+. This includes hiring and focusing on the upward mobility of underrepresented groups across all levels and ensuring all employees feel a sense of belonging.
To show support for LGBTQIA+ employees and celebrate their diverse perspectives, Olo Pride hosts events throughout the year to engage members and allies across the organization. But Pride Month is a celebration like no other.
Already this June, the group hosted a fireside chat and panel with the Olo Parents ERG, and they have several upcoming events—including a Vogue Class with Cesar Valentino, a Paint n’ Sip Night, a Letter Writing Event, a Pride Bakeoff, and a Walkathon Charity Pride Parade.
Fun events aside, true advocacy is a year-round effort. At Olo, we stand firm against hate and for the rights of all to live safely and without the fear of discrimination based on their gender identity, race, origin, religion, political views, generational differences, or sexual orientation.
That’s why Olo signed the Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation, along with 324 other companies, stating our opposition to harmful legislation aimed at restricting the access of LGBTQIA+ people.
Additionally, in response to the 491 bills targeting LGBTQIA+ rights across the U.S. in 2023, Olo directed its Donor Advised Fund partner, Tides Foundation, to donate $10,000, split evenly between three organizations fighting anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation: ACLU of Mississippi, ACLU of Oklahoma, and ACLU of Tennessee.
Restaurant Brands Celebrating Pride Month 2023
We’re proud to see many of our restaurant customers demonstrating similar support for the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month and year-round. Here are a few examples:
Noodles & Company
Noodles & Company brought back the Pride Crispy for its annual Pride Month celebration. For the third year, the brand is pledging to donate up to $30,000 to Out & Equal—an organization advocating for LGBTQIA+ workplace equality—with help from Pride Crispy sales in June. Noodles & Company stands in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and, to date, has donated $45,000 to Out & Equal.
Snooze A.M. Eatery
As part of its “Everyone is welcome at our table” campaign, Snooze A.M. Eatery will donate 100% of sales (up to $25K) from its featured Pride Pancake in June to The Trevor Project to help in its mission to end suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth. Additionally, Snooze will engage its employees in interactive inclusive education and ally training throughout June, and highlight employees on social media as they march in Pride parades throughout the country.
MOD Pizza
MOD Pizza serves pride—in its food, communities, and culture of belonging—year-round. This June, the brand will donate $0.20 for every Pride Cake sold at MOD Pizza (up to $50K) to the It Gets Better Project and its mission to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQIA+ youth around the globe.
Insomnia Cookies
This month, Insomnia Cookies is donating $2 from every Pride 12-pack sold to Campus Pride, a national nonprofit for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBTQIA+ students. Guests can order a dozen Classic cookies of their choice, wrapped in a celebratory Pride box sleeve, and support the cause.
Shake Shack
Throughout June, Shake Shack guests can customize any shake or frozen custard by adding sprinkles for $0.50. All sprinkle proceeds will go to PFLAG National, an organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and their loved ones. Outside of the Sprinkled with Pride campaign, Shake Shack is committed to creating an inclusive and empowering culture. For multiple years in a row, the brand has earned a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for its support of the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace.
Eureka!
Eureka! Restaurant Group is serving up a Pride in Paradise Cocktail all month long in honor of Pride Month. The brand will donate $1 from every Pride in Paradise purchased to The Trevor Project.
Learn more about Olo’s DEI efforts, including the Olo Pride ERG, and apply for one of our open positions on our careers page.
